EDITORIAL: JED Exercise Opportunity Brings Health to the Workplace

Photo By Charlie Maib | Japan Engineer District launches a new fitness program. Teammates are highly encouraged to take advantage of it.  

KANAGAWA, JAPAN

11.25.2021

Story by Charlie Maib 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Japan District

No doubt, losing weight is tough. I’m 46 now, and when I was younger getting the pounds off came relatively easy. I mean, sure, it took work: I had to exercise, but I could drop 5 pounds a week if I dedicated myself to a few hours of physical fitness a day along with a regiment of healthy eating. But it was doable. Fast-forward twenty years and I the weight drops off like… well, it doesn’t. Metabolism of a sloth. And that’s if I even have time to exercise. You see, I’m sure as you’re well aware, once you’re into life- family, kids, career- it’s hard to find time to work out.

Thankfully, Japan Engineer District has a plan for that. It’s a plan for folks like you and me. It’s called the “Fitness and Health Program,” which is very direct and to the point. I like that.

The JED Fitness Program allows you to take three hours a week for exercise. These three hours can be at the beginning of the day, the end of the day, in conjunction with your lunch, whenever. The time is treated as administrative leave, so you don’t have to worry about burning up your hard eared hours along with your calories.

For Martin Thomas, one the plan’s biggest boosters, the idea just makes sense.

“Here on Camp Zama, we’re right next to the gym,” he pointed to me out over a lunch of not-so-healthy Indian curry and naan. “Look, people can take an hour and walk across the street and go the gym. Run, lift weights, climb stairs, swim. Do something.”

And he right, the gym is right across the street. And because you can choose the exact time your fitness time starts, you’re free to organize it around any number of things, or avoidance of things. Case in point, there’s a class they have at the gym which traditionally begins Thursdays around 5:30 pm that can get a bit noisy. I’m taking my hour of time at 3:30 pm so I’m sure to miss them.

That’s right, I’m not only a booster of the JED Fitness Plan, but I’m also a user as well. As someone who genetically lacks svelteness, I need the time to exercise to be able to stay healthy. Time can be hard to find in my day, but this plan gives me the gift of it.

All I had to do was go to my supervisor, fill out form CEPOJ-DD (690), figure out when I wanted to exercise and what I wanted to do (I was general- I said “cardio and weights”) sign it, and turn it in. It was super easy.

I’ve been at it now for a few weeks, and I’m pleased to say that I already feel a difference. I know that it might not be visibly obvious, but when I walk, there’s more of a spring in my step. And to tell the truth, I feel better about myself.

It feels good to feel better about myself.

I highly encourage you to contact your supervisor and pick a plan that works for you. No one is saying it has to be high intensity. No one is saying you have to end up a bodybuilder. No one is asking you to make a fool of yourself or saying that you have to go do this, you don’t. What you have here is an opportunity, a door that has been opened for you.

All you have to do is walk through it. Oh, And fill out a form.

• Date Taken: 11.25.2021
• Date Posted: 11.25.2021 16:54
• Story ID: 410049
• Location: KANAGAWA, JP